Mechanism for distributing tacks



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I J. E. MATZELIGER. MEUHANISMFORDISTRIBUTINGTAGKS,NAILS,&0.

No. 415,726. r Patented Nov. 1889- Wrrwssss: WVENTOF 0,23 WM T Q2 r04; g in; Q31

(No Model 3 sheetssheet 2.

J. E. MATZELIGER. MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING TAGK S No. 415,726.

NAILS,&0., Patented Nov. 26. 1889.

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N PETERs, Phntu-Lkhemphcn Washington, D. c.

(N0 Model 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V J. E. MATZELIGER MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTINGTAGKS, NAILS,6w.

No. 415,726. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

WITN 588E621 1E. mnzd i er "51 N. PETERS Hwlo-Lhhognpher. Washingmn INVENTD Tacks, Nails, and other UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAN EARNST MATZELIGER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING TACKS, NAILS 84c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,726, dated N ovember'26, 1889.

Application filed October 12, 1888. Serial No. 287,908. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ANEARNST MATZELIGER, of Lynn, countyof Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Mechanism for Distributing Small Suspendahle Articles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism whereby tacks, nails, and other small articles are received in bulk promiseuously and are fed to and discharged through a chute at positive intervals.

The invention consists of a mechanism in which there is a' hopper for receiving the articles in bulk, a chute by which the articles are conducted, a shifter whereby the articles are shifted from the hopper to the chute, and a device whereby the chute is relieved of articles clogged or jammed therein, all of which is more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hopper for receiving the articles in bulk.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a section 011 line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan. view of the lower section of the chute and a separator combined therewith. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a vertical central section of said lower part of the chute on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The chute, as shown, consists of two portions, one fixed and the other movable.

The lower fixed section of the chute (see Fig. 4) is provided with a suitable groove or channel a, constitut'ng a raceway for the articles to move in, and it is preferably formed in two parts or steel bars, which are held together by screws or fastening-studs, as shown in Fig. 4. In one end of the hopper B is formed a continuation ll of the chute, which constitutes the upper movable portion, and which leads from the chamber of the hopper outward and forward (see Fig. 2) to connect with the other section. The connection is effected by means of a joint that supports the hopper and permits the same to be tilted on the joint as a fulcrum. In combination (see Fig. 1) the raceway of the chute is continuous through said joint into the hopper-chamher, and is further extended by cutting a channel in the bottom of the hopper. Aportion of said raceway, at the rear of the hopper-chamber, is left open, while the remainder is overhung by a bridge or cover f, or like device, which serves as a stop and sets down so closely that a tack must be Well down in the raceway, its head bearing on the sides of the chute, in order to go under the bridge. The sides, of the chute at the upper end are inclined, each gradually widening upward to a point 00, Fig. 3, and then descending abruptly, forming thus two inclined faces y z.

The chute is smoothly polished, so that if properly inclined the tacks gravitate downward to the discharge end thereof without other assistance than the natural jar and vibration of the operating'part. I have proved by experience that tacks, when thus properly suspended in the chute, will gravitate downward with almost unerring certainty, unless permitted to lift or ride upward, so as to en tangle with other tacks or change their own position, so as to wedge o'r cramp themselves in the raceway. This difficulty I overcome by the use of a bridge or cover, which overhangs the chute at a point below its upper end and above the faces 2, and extends downward along the same to the separator, hereinafter described.

To provide for getting the tacks properly suspended in the chute, I leave a portionof the raceway a uncovered in thehopper-chamher, in order that the body of tacks, when thrown into or shifted about in the hopperchamber promiscuously, may crowd some of its component members into the exposed raceway. .The tacks are placed in the hopperchamber promiseuously. Enough to only partly fill the hopper are placed in at one time. In order to shift the tacks from the hopper into the chute, I employ an agitating mechanism of suitable character, whereby the hopper is moved so as to shift the body of tacks from one position to anotherin the hopper-chamber. Said agitator, as shown, comprises the crank-wheel 4, which is revolved by any suitable driving power, and the pitman 5, by which said power is transmitted to the hopper, (See Fig. 1.) First the rear end of the hopper is lifted, so as to cause the bulk of tacks to gravitate into the opposite end of the hopper-chamber above the bridge f. During such operation the tacks in the exposed portion of the raceway slide forward, and if properly suspended (if they set well down in the raceway, their heads bearing on the chute an d bodies projecting downwardly in the raceway) they pass under the bridge f, unless retarded by some obstructing object, which may be, first, an overfull raceway under the bridge; second, by an improperly-suspended tack getting cramped or otherwise stuck in the raceway before reaching the bridge, or, third, an improperly-suspend ed tack engaging the end of the bridge, for it will be observed that I employ the said end of the bridge as a stop device, whereby improperly-suspended tacks are stopped from entering the chute under the bridge. Said shifter mechanism next operates to depress the rear end of the hopper, whereby the incline of the hopper-chamber, and consequently its portion of the raceway, is inverted. The tacks in the raceway which have not passed under the bridge will now retrace backward along the raceway and allow the improperly-suspended tacks a further opportunity to settle down to the desired position, which they will generally do unless in some way they are cramped or stuck in the raceway; but the downward movement of the hopper aforesaid causes the body of loose tacks to pass from their position above the bridge f in one end of the hopper-chamber to the opposite end thereof. In transit they slide along the bottom .of the hopper, and, engaging the obstructing tack, they release and drag italong with them. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I utilize the body of loose tacks as a kind of drag or clearer for the purpose of keeping the raceway freed of obstructing tacks and jams in front of the stop device. I am aware, however, that a lever or other mechanism might be employed and moved over the raceway by suitable operating devices, so as at intervals to perform the function of the body of loose tacks.

The chute-raceway immediately in rear of the stop device, which in this mechanism is the end of the bridge f, is inclined or curved, as shown, to the end that when the hopper reaches its extreme downward movement the tacks are prevented from sliding backward from under the bridge and returning to the hopper-chamber. The hopper is tilted or shifted by the shifter mechanism at intervals sufficiently frequent to keep the chute well filled with tacks. Instead of a shifter device, as represented, whereby the shifting is effected through a movement of the hopper, other obvious means may be employed,

which, if desired, may act directly on the tack.

I have represented in the drawings a separator combined with the lower section of the chute, (see Fig. 4,) whereby the tacks are taken from the ch Lite-raceway and discharged, one at a time, to a receiver at the end thereof. Said separator, its connections, and operating devices constitute the subject-matter of a separate application for Letters Patent duly filed by me in the United States Patent Office, and serially numbered 287,988, to which reference may be had for an under= standing thereof. It is also represented in connection with this invention as a component part of a lasting-machine described in an application for Letters Patent therefor, filed in the United States Patent Office, August 14, 1885, Serial No. 174,378, to which reference also may be had. It is here noted that the mechanism embodying this invention operates independently of any particular form of separator or device for discharging tacks from the chute. p

I have described this invention as employed for manipulating tacks; but ordinary mechanical skill will enable persons to modify and adapt it for manipulating nails and other small articles capable of being suspended in the raceway-chute, as described.

\Vithout limiting myself :to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim 1. A feeding device for tacks, &c., consisting of a chute having alcontinuous slot for the passage of the stemsioflithe tacks and leading to the point wherle..lthe= tacks are driven, and a bridge crossingthe slot above said chute below its upper end; substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a tack-feeding device, of a chute, one part thereof being fixed and the other part movable, a bridge crossing a slot in the chute above the movable portion, and devices for agitating said movable portion, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a tack-feeding chute having a slot for the passage of the stems of the tacks and a fixed and a movable portion jointed together, substantially as described, of a hopper connected with said movable portion, substantially as set forth.

4. Thecombination, with the chute, of a tack-feeding device consisting of a fixed and a movable portion jointed together and affording a continuous slot for the passage of the stems of the tacks, and appliances for agitating the movable portion, substantially as set forth.

5. The chute provided with inclined faces y z and with a bridge, substantially as described.

6. The upper movable portion of a feedingchute having inclined faces y .2 at each side, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the upper. moving portion of a chute having inclined faces y z, of a bridge above the faces 2', substantially as set forth.

8. In a tack-feeding device, a fixed section 5 of a chute, combined with a hopper pivoted to said fixed section and slotted to form another section of the chute, and appliances for agitating the hopper, substantially as set forth.

JAN EARNST MATZELIGER.

Witnesses:

O. H. DELMAR, C. B. TUTTLE. 

